The city was full of life, of elves walking in majesty and glory, with a simple grace that Humanity could never manage. They were nothing like the elves I’d known—beatendown remnants of a once-noble race. There was magic in their every movement and a dignity that bordered on arrogance. Their emotions were larger and purer than ours, and so their faults were greater, too. They were not so different from us, really. The elves ... were Humanity writ large, with all our virtues and our faults magnified. They moved like walking dreams that could become nightmares.
Other magical creatures accompanied them—whole clouds of wee winged fairies, flashing through the air, shooting back and forth in patterns too complicated for the human eye to follow, leaving behind them shimmering trails of pure joy. Winged unicorns, of a white so bright it was blinding, flying gracefully down to graze on the great green pastures. There were gryphons and cockatrices and gargoyles, moving openly, with no fear of human hunters. There were trolls and ogres and darker shapes I didn’t even recognise, gone from history so long that not even their names remained. They bowed respectfully to the elves, who moved amongst them unconcerned.
And then the marvellous scene was gone, the stone cavern abruptly back again. It felt like waking from a dream of something wonderful, lost. Arthur lowered his hand, looking tired.
“The elves were worth saving, then,” said Arthur. “Perhaps they can become worth saving again. Honour requires I give them that chance.”
“Never did share your enthusiasm for the pointy-eared bastards,” said Kae. “They did things no human being would ever do and gloried in it.”
“They were different,” said Arthur.
“And Mab was a monster!”
“Grief and loss of her only true love drove her mad,” Arthur said flatly. “I sent Tam to her; so part of everything that happened after that is down to me. She never got over Tam’s death; and immortals have so much longer to grieve than us. Her rage against the fate that took him became a rage against the world, and all who lived in it. I have known grief and loss, too.”
“It didn’t make you into a monster,” said Kae.
“It might have,” said Arthur. “You never did realise how close I came, after I lost Guinevere.” He shook his great head again. “There’s been too much killing. There’s only one way to stop this coming civil war amongst the elves; and that’s to find them a new home. All of them. I have dreamed the elves’ sad history. They are stagnating in Shadows Fall and dying in the Sundered Lands the Droods found for them. Perhaps that’s why the Droods chose it. Always were a bunch of devious bastards. No—both sides need to move to a new world, where they can thrive and prosper again, far from humanity.”
“Is this ... really such a good idea, Arthur?” said Kae, trying hard to sound tactful. “A new, revitalised elven race could be an even greater threat to Humanity. For all your ... dreams, I don’t think you realise exactly how far the elves have fallen. There’s nothing left in them but bitterness and hate for everything human. They live to screw us over because that’s all they’ve got left. Only this day, an army of elves broke into my castle and killed dozens of my good knights, simply because they could!”
“And how many of them did you kill, Kae?” said Arthur. “The killing has to stop sometime.”
“You always were a dreamer,” growled Kae.
“And sometimes I make dreams come true,” said Arthur. “Isn’t that why you founded the London Knights, to keep my dream alive?”
“I don’t know why I ever argue with you,” said Kae. “You always could talk rings round me.”
“Kae, even Gawaine could talk rings round you. And he only had fifty words, thirty of which were arse.”
They both got the giggles, which was somewhat incongruous for such large men.
“I can find the elves a new world,” I said, thinking quickly, and they both stopped laughing to look at me. I did my best to sound calm and composed. “There is an establishment here in the Nightside, with many Doors, that lead to every place you ever dreamed of. Doorways to all the worlds that ever were or may be, worlds without end. And one Door in particular leads to a world I think would be perfect for the elves. As long as we’re careful to bolt the Door firmly behind them. If I lead you to such a Door, Arthur, can you persuade the elves to go through it?”
“The returned King’s authority should be enough to summon both sides to parley,” said Kae. “Always assuming a suitable neutral ground can be found.”
“Again, I have a place in mind,” I said. “I’ve been there before, and it’s probably the one place that would impress the shit out of both sides.”
“Good!” said Arthur. “Now, for the sake of all that’s good and holy, let us leave this dismal and unpleasant place!”
“Best idea I’ve heard yet,” said Alex. “Come on up to the bar. Drinks are on me.”
“Ah!” said Arthur, beaming. “Best idea I’ve heard so far.”
Alex led the way back to the stone steps. I moved in beside him.
“Can’t help noticing you were a bit quiet back there.”
“What is there to say?” said Alex. “That’s King bloody Arthur!”
He had a point. But I’ve never believed in being over-impressed. Especially not by the good guys.
Up in the bar itself, Arthur took a good look round, and wasn’t immediately impressed. The few remaining customers took one look at him and decided to leave right then before the trouble started. Alex moved quickly behind the bar and set about dispensing drinks. Back in his usual position of authority, he was immediately much more at ease, and a lot of his usual caustic manner returned. He even told Kae off for leaning on the wooden bar top in his armour and leaving scratches. Arthur eyed the bar-stools dubiously, and decided to stand. I couldn’t help noticing that Suzie was being even quieter than usual and keeping a watchful eye on Arthur.
Before anyone could think to warn him, Arthur reached out to pet Alex’s vulture, Agatha, still squatting balefully on top of the till. He rubbed her head and chucked her under the chin, talking cheerful nonsense to her, and to everyone’s surprise the bird sat there and let him do it. She actually looked bashfully at Arthur, and fluttered her eyelashes at him. Anyone else, she’d have had his hand off at the wrist.
“Arthur’s always had a way with the beasts and the birds,” said Kae. “Never would go hunting with me.”
“Barbarian sport,” Arthur said briskly. “Killing for necessity is one thing. You’re not supposed to enjoy it.”
He studied the ranks of drinks available behind the bar and beamed happily. “We never had anything like this in my day, did we, Kae? Mead and uisge, and wines that were always half-way towards vinegar. This looks much more interesting. I want lots of drinks, and I want them now. Start pouring, bartender; I have it in me to try at least one of everything. Nothing like sleeping fifteen hundred years to work up a real thirst.”
We all looked on, suitably impressed, as Arthur knocked back the drinks as fast as Alex could produce them, to no obvious effect. Kae smiled proudly, though I noticed he made no attempt to keep up with Arthur. I sipped at a wormwood brandy, to be sociable, while Suzie barely touched her bottle of Gordon’s Gin. She was still watching Arthur carefully. After a while, Arthur belched loudly, stretched as unselfconsciously as any cat, and looked at all the empty glasses racked up before him.